Oscar fashion: Scarlet fever
Reds rule the red carpet
By SARA GLASSMAN
Anne Hathaway
This ruby-colored goddess gown by Marchesa set off Hathaway's porcelain skin. With the elegant rosettes over her left shoulder, she took the honor for the best overall. To Ryan Seacrest, Hathaway described her dress as a "diaphanous sheath." True enough.
BEST-DRESSED COUPLE
Heidi Klum and Seal
Seal wore Dolce & Gabbana and Klum wore Galliano. Together, they looked made for each other. Heidi's neutral makeup helped set off the dress. Note: You don't need to wear red lipstick with your red dress.
BEST DRESSED 15-YEAR-OLD
Miley Cyrus
Did she need to wear full-length Valentino? She probably would have looked her age in something a little bit shorter and more fun. That said, the bright crimson hue rocked with her un-Hannah Montana hair color.
BEST DRESSED 'GREY'S ANATOMY' CHARACTER
Katherine Heigl
Her one-shoulder Escada was streamlined and sleek, but the peekaboo at the other deltoid was a little distracting. She showed how to match your red lipstick to your dress. Heigl's Marilyn curls were bouncy, but sorry Katherine, Patrick Dempsey's hair looked a bit better than yours.
BEST IMPRESSION OF A FLOUNDER
Marion Cotillard
She played the very French Edith Piaf. She is French. Not surprisingly, she wore a French designer, Jean Paul Gaultier. However, the under-the-sea theme -- a mermaid silhouette and actual scales -- came out of nowhere.
SCARIEST GARBAGE BAG
Tilda Swinton
Who needs a stylist? Swinton reached for the Hefty bag. She might have been awarded most prepared, had there been a real downpour.
MOST BORING
Ellen Page, Jennifer Garner and Laura Linney
The reason? They wore black and, in Linney's case, midnight blue. This year, with the bright colors on the red carpet, the frocks seemed kind of blah.
BEST MATERNITY GOWN
Jessica Alba
The deep plum strapless gown set off Alba's glowing skin tone. The flowy fabric and goddess cut flattered her third-trimester baby bump.
BEST DRESS-EYE-COLOR COORDINATION
Amy Adams
Her structured strapless Proenza Schouler gown was a work of art. The most striking aspect was that the dark teal matched her deep blue-green eyes.
BEST DRESSED PREVIOUS WINNER
Hilary Swank
She went dark chocolate and black. She combined the popular botanical vine, one-shoulder style and floating layers.
MOST ELEGANT
Amy Ryan
She was probably just happy to have been nominated, but her elegant navy sheath by Calvin Klein made her look like a statue, even if she didn't take one home.
BEST METALLIC
Renee Zellweger
Her boyish hairdo was balanced by the feminine, full-length strapless Carolina Herrera silver gown. She put a twist on the full-length dress by showing a lot of leg in the front, channeling her inner Rockette.
BEST BLING
Keri Russell
She looked quite stunning, but when it came to her neckwear -- she took top honors.
about the writer
SARA GLASSMAN
Lefse-wrapped Swedish wontons, a soothing bowl of rice porridge and a gravy-laden commercial filled our week with comfort and warmth.